Dú Ealla Abú tells story of a great GAA barony
THIS week’s launch of “Dú Ealla Abú” is a celebration of Duhallow GAA affairs over the past eight decades on acknowledging achievements for great teams, players and officers.
Its fair to say, gaelic games has touched every family within Duhallow and beyond. No surprise, these games maintain a prominent position in the North West Cork barony, football, hurling and related activity has enjoyed unrivalled popularity. Indeed, the great players, both male and female from Duhallow have sampled the ultimate success on the playing fields and honoured with team and individual accolades at the highest level.
The Duhallow division and its clubs, big and small hold a recognised strong tradition, their commitment to the promotion of gaelic games and culture remains steadfast in the face of many challenges.
It goes without saying, Duhallow people have always been proud of their roots. This element of pride and appreciation has helped to create respect for clubs and teams in addition to the wealth of voluntary and dedicated work undertaken.
Fortunately for Duhallow, it can be thankful to great leaders, none more so than the original officers Frank Hayes, J G O’Connor, Jim Nevin and J V Burton on pursing the establishment of this great division in 1932. With the baton passed onto John Joe Brosnan, Jerry Keating, Frank Healy, Tom Dennehy, Richard Murphy and so many others over the years, all have made a substantial contribution to Duhallow GAA on diligently pursuing the fundamental objective of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael to promote and encourage the playing of games.
The success of Duhallow owes much to the community spirit in clubs, advanced from kicking footballs and pucking sliothars in borrowed fields and meadows to partaking in their own complexes at permanent homes.
Clubs owes much to the foresight of members who undertook the daunting task of initiating developments, at a time when money was scarce yet fund raising took place as did the giving of personal donations in order to purchase land. Indeed securing home bases has become a significant contributing factor in the success of clubs and enhanced over the years with club houses, gymnasiums, lighting to second and third fields.
The GAA in Duhallow has stood the test of time, its games are interwoven deeply into community life. From the 1930’s all associated with Duhallow GAA and clubs can take credit for providing the resources and developments that ensured our gaelic games have remained attractive for players, patrons and continue to be the centrepiece of the sporting life of a great barony.
Long may it continue, “Dú Ealla Abú”!